El Paso's Pepi coming off big week in career with Player of the Week honor, new contract

Ricardo Pepi faced a tough question during a monumental week in his career with FC Dallas.

It was the tough question any 18-year-old star athlete would want to face.

After becoming the youngest player in MLS history to record a hat trick Saturday against LA Galaxy, after getting named the MLS Player of the Week on Monday, the same day he received a five-year contract extension that theoretically (though perhaps not likely) could keep him with Dallas through 2026, how does he stay grounded?

Actually, the El Paso native, who left San Elizario and the FC Dallas El Paso program at age 13 to join the FC Dallas Academy, found that question simple.

"They've been great days, but these are things — we can't let them affect the way we train, the way we play," Pepi said during FC Dallas' Thursday media availability. "We're preparing for Kansas (City Saturday). These are great things, but we have to leave them behind and then focus on the next game.

"I've gotten some advice, especially from my parents. They are the first people who told me I've got to stay on my toes and stay humble. Most of the coaching staff have told me the same thing. I feel like personally, I'm that type of person. I won't let that affect me at all."

His coach Luchi Gonzalez, the former youth director for FC Dallas who spotted Pepi in El Paso five years ago, said he thinks that comes naturally for Pepi.

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"Every young player getting early attention will have that challenge," Gonzalez said. "He comes from a very humble foundation at home, he comes from El Paso, he's been very grounded. He's very hungry, very determined, very confident in himself, but he does it with a humble foundation.

"I feel like he's just getting started. He knows he has to stay on his toes, keep a humble mentality. That's very automatic for him. The family he comes from is on his butt about his mentality, his humility."

FC Dallas is billing Pepi as their first "true pathway" player, as he went from FC Dallas El Paso to the academy to at age 15 becoming expansion North Texas FC's (USL League 1) first player in 2019.

He was in the MLS part-time at age 16 later in the 2019 season, when he scored his first goal, and he saved Dallas last year in the first round of the playoffs with a stoppage-time goal to tie Portland. Dallas won that game before losing in the next round after a Pepi penalty in the ensuing shootout.

This year he's getting regular playing time and leads FC Dallas in goals with eight.

"Everything has been quite organic with Pepi," Gonzalez said. "He was very determined, and he wanted it. It wasn't just us. He wanted it. That's an example of his passion and desire.

"Two years ago, he was getting a sniff, working hard in training, getting reps with the second team but training with the first team. Finally, last year he had some breakout moments and goals.

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"This year, he has grabbed more opportunities. He hasn't been gifted anything, this is not charity, he's grabbed these opportunities, earned them. It's all been a process of steps, it's been organic, him earning it, working hard."

That long path through the ranks has impressed his teammates.

"He's such a good kid," defender Ryan Hollingshead said. "He's humble, works so hard. You think about his career so far, he's not had much rhythm. Years of training with the second team, putting in those hours and all the while proving he can score goals at any level, just waiting for chance. Now he's gotten his chance, and he's done really well with it.

"There are guys you don't really wish success upon, then there are guys you do. He's one of those guys. Any way we can get him in the limelight, I'm happy to do so. He can handle it, he's got a really good head on his shoulders. I'm incredibly proud, the team needed him and he stepped up."

Pepi has enjoyed that scenery along the way.

"I’ve been through every step of FC Dallas,” Pepi said. “I’ve been in the Academy, second team and my dream has always been to become a professional soccer player and I’ve worked hard for it. I’ve put my effort and my time into it. If you really want something, it’s going to happen.

“I’ve always been working for moments like this. I’m not satisfied with where I am. I want to keep going and I want more. Hopefully, at the end of the season, I’m the top goal scorer in the whole league."

The team showed its appreciation with the five-year contract extension, terms of which are not disclosed per team policy. Pepi, though, seems likely to draw attention from European clubs, perhaps sooner rather than later. He's widely reported to be a target of Bologna in Italy's Serie A.

In the meantime, he's happy with the trajectory of his career.

"I’m very happy to give my everything to FC Dallas,” Pepi said when he signed his new contract. “I want to thank the club for having that trust in me. It’s a big step in my career, personally and for my family.

"I feel like it has been paying off ever since my family moved here when I was 13-years-old. I just want to give my family everything that I can."

That's been coming true for years. Now everyone across the MLS sees that.

Bret Bloomquist can be reached at 915-546-6359; bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on Twitter.